Drawer track



M. J. HOUCK DRAWER TRACK Filed Nov. 14, 1958 July 4, 1961 MELVIN J.HOUCK INVENTOR HUEBNER 6 WOR/PE L A TTOAWEVS 2,991,141 DRAWER TRACKMelvin J. Houck, 1340 W. Inyo, Tulare, Calif. Filed Nov. 14, 1958, Ser.No. 773,876 7 Claims. (Cl. 312-341) The present invention relates to adrawer track and more particularly to an improvement in such a trackwhich facilitates its mounting on a drawer.

In the past, drawers have provided side panels having lower edges whichwere directly slidably supported on rails forming part of a drawer-railframe secured to the cabinet housing the drawer. The side panels of thedrawer slid on the rails as the drawer was pulled out of, or pushedinto, the cabinet. Because of undue friction which existed between thesliding surfaces as a result of the woods employed, distortion incidentto weather con ditions, inadequate lubrication, and the like, rollershave more popularly been employedfor supporting drawers for in and outmovement in their cabinets.

Usually two sets of rollers are employed for mounting a single drawer. Apair of forward rollers are mounted on the drawer-rail frame adjacent tothe forward end theerof for rolling against the underside of the drawer,and a pair of rear rollers are mounted on the underside of the draweradjacent to its rearward end and roll onthe drawer-rail frame. In orderto provide a smooth, firm rolling surface having a minimum of frictionalresistance, it has been known to provide elongated metal strips on theunderside of the drawer, and secured to the lower surface of the bottompanel of the drawer and along the side edges thereof. These metal stripsare referred to as tracks and have conventionally been secured to thebottom or other drawer panel by screws, nails, or similar fasteners,which interrupt the smooth continuity of the strips, render theirattachment somewhat less dependable than desired, and require more time,labor, and materials in the process of attachment to the drawer thandesired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved drawer track.

Another object is to facilitate the mounting of a track on a drawer.

Another object is to minimize the time, labor, and materials required inattaching tracks on drawers.

Another object is to provide a drawer track which is substantiallysmooth and continuous throughout its usable length and which is notinterrupted by screws, nails, or other fasteners, within such length.

Another object is to minimize the adaptation of, and/ or damage to, adrawer incident to the attachment of a track thereto.

Another object is to prevent or minimize undesirable wood splittingand/or disassembly or displacement of parts of a drawer as a result ofthe attachment of a track to the drawer.

Another object is to utilize, in part, the available construction of adrawer to facilitate the mounting of a track thereon.

These, together with otherobjects, will become more fully apparent uponreference to the following description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is :a perspective view of a drawer-rail frame having a drawermounted on the frame and including a roller track attached to the drawerin accordance with the principles of the present invention, a portion ofthe drawer being removed for illustrative convenience.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom of the drawer affording abetter view of the manner in which the track is attached to the drawer.

nited States FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary section 7Patented July 4, 1961 taken on a plane longitudinally of the drawer at aposition represented by line 33 in FIG. 2 but with the drawer in anupright position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on a plane transversely of thedrawer at a position represented by line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a portion ofFIG. 2 showing a corner of the bottom of the drawer where the bottom,front, and side panels meet and specifically showing the manner in whichthe drawer track of the subject invention is mounted in associationtherewith.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a drawerrail frame isgenerally indicated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1 and includes spacedparallel substantially horizontal front and rear rails .11 and 12interconnected by longitudinally extended spaced parallel bearing rails13. The drawer-rail frame is adapted to be mounted in a cabinet, notshown, in a well-known manner and does not form any particular part ofthe present invention. It is to be noted, however, that front axle pins15 are mounted on the bearing rails adjacent to their front ends insubstantially horizontal coaxial positions, and that front rollers 16are journaled on the axle pins for rotation about horizontal axestransversely of the bearing rails.

A drawer 20 is illustrated in the drawing and includes apair oftransversely spaced parallel elongated side panels 21 having upper andlower edges and inner and outer surfaces. The side panels provideelongated longitudinally extended lower grooves 23 in their inneropposed surfaces and relatively adjacent to their lower edges. The

drawer also has longitudinally spaced parallel front and back end panels25 and 26, respectively, which also have upper and lower edges and innerand outer surfaces. There is a lower front transverse groove 27 and arear transverse groove in the inner surfaces of the panels, relativelyadjacent to their lower edges, and in substantially the same horizontalplane as the lower grooves in the side panels, all in a mannerwell-known. It is also to be observed that the front panel providesupper and lower portions 30 and 31 which are spaced from each other soas to define the front lower groove 27. For purposes of later reference,the lower front groove has upper and lower surfaces which actually formthe opposed surfaces of the upper and lower portions. As will also beevident as the description proceeds, the lower portion of the frontpanel serves as a ledge.

The drawer 20 also includes a substantially rectangular bottom panel 36having upper and lower surfaces 37 and 38 and front, rear, and sideedges respectively fitted in the lower grooves of the front, rear andside panels 25, 26, and 21 so that the bottom panel rests on the ledge31 and specifically on the lower surface of the groove 27. The bottompanel is glued in place or is merely held in place by reason of theassembled relation of the front, back, and side panels. It is to benoted that the bottom panel is, therefore, located in upwardly spacedrelation to the lower edges of the other panels so as to provide theseother panels with dependent portions below the bottom panel. The bottompanel meets the front and side panels in substantially right-angularrelation to define front and rear corners, as will be evident.

A pair of tracks 45 are provided for the drawer 20 and it is in regardto the attachment of these tracks tothe drawer that the subjectinvention is primarily concerned. Inasmuch as each track is attached tothe drawer in the same manner, only one will be described in detail.Each track has an elongated bottom flange 47 having a side edge 48, afront edge 49 and a rear edge 50. The track also includes a side flange52 integrally right-angularly extended from the bottom flange and has afront edge 53 a rear edge 54 and a side edge 55. Obviously, therefore,

the side flanges are in right-angular relation and meet along a breakline. The specific angular relation between the flanges of the track isof significance only in that this angular relation should besubstantially the same as that between the bottom panel 36 and either ofthe side panels 21 along their dependent portions.

The bottom flange 47 of each track 45 has a front driven end portion 60terminating in the front end edge 49 for such bottom flange. The frontend edge 53 of the side flange 52 terminates short of the front end edgeof the driven end portion, as will be evident particularly by referenceto FIGS. 2 and 3. However, a locking key 64 is extended from the breakline in right-angular relation from the bottom flange and in the sameplane as the side flange but has a side edge which termiha'tes inwardlyof the principal side edge of the side flange. The driven end portionand the locking key are formed on the track preferably by cutting arectangular section out of the end of the side flange of a piece ofangular metallic stock so as to leave the narrow locking key and todefine a notch in the side flange.

A track bracket 68 is secured by welding to the side flange 52 adjacentto the rearward end of the track 45 and mounts an axle pin 69 on which arear roller 70 is journaled for rotation about an axis disposedtransversely of the track and in opposed relation to the bottom flange47.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subjectinvention is briefly summarized at this point although it is believed tobe readily apparent. After the track 45 has been constructed or formedin the manner described above, it is ready for attachment to a drawer20. The drawer is inverted in a position similar to that shown in FIG.2. The track 45 is extended longitudinally of the bottom panel 36 withthe bottom flange 47 rested against the bottom surface 38 of the bottompanel and with the side flange 52 against the inwardly disposed surfaceof an adjacent side panel 21. The track is slid longitudinally forwardlyuntil the front edge 49 of the driven end portion 60 is in abutment withthe inwardly disposed surface of the ledge 31. Preferably by means of ahammer, not shown, the track is driven longitudinally forwardly so as toforce or wedge the driven end portion into the ledge below the lowersurface 38 of the bottom panel 36. Concurrently, of course, the lockingkey 64 gouges or scores a key-way 75 into the ledge. The track ispreferably driven forwardly until the track bracket 68 engages the rearedge of the respective side panel 21. Thereupon, nails 77 are driventhrough the track bracket into the rear edge of the side panel throughthe bottom flange 47 of the track adjacent its rear end into the loweredge of the rear panel 26. The front end of the track is held inposition by the wedging or fitting of the driven end portion of thebottom flange between the ledge and the bottom. panel 36. It is to benoted that the driven end portion cuts a channel 79 for itself in theledge. This channel is recessed below the lower surface of the groove 27in the front panel 25, and the key-way 75 is recessed in this channelalongside of the respectively adjacent side panel 21. The key-way andits cooperating locking key resist transverse movement of the trackrelative to itself and the drawer, that is, it resists movement of thetrack longitudinally of the front groove 27.

After the other track 45 has been similarly mounted on the drawer 20,the latter is rested on the drawer-rail frame with the front roller 16on the frame rolling against the bottom flanges 47 of the tracks 45 andwith the rear rollers 70 on the tracks adapted for upward engagementwith the bearing rails 13 mounted on the frame, all as isbestillustrated in FIG. 1.

It will be evident that the described attachment of the tracks to thedrawer offers several advantages. The

tracks are convenient and easy to attach to the drawer simply by drivingthem into place and employing one and possibly two nails for holding therear of the tracks. Elimination of nails or other fasteners adjacent tothe forward ends of the tracks provides a substantially continuous,smooth bottom flange along which the front rollers 16 can roll. Thisfacilitates smooth movement of the drawer inwardly and outwardly of itscabinet and reduces wear of the rollers. It has been found thatutilization of the described method of attachment of roller tracksreduces the time, labor and materials required for performing the taskof attaching the tracks to a drawer. Also, if considerable clearance hasbeen provided by the lower front groove from the bottom panel of thedrawer, it will be evident that the driven end portion of the tracktakes up some of the space so provided to prevent the bottom panel fromrattling. When a minimum clearance is provided, the described driven endportion displaces a minimum of wood and avoids spreading of the panelsof the drawer while dependably holding the track in place.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A method of attaching an elongated angular roller track to a drawerwherein the track has a driven end and elongated angularly related sideand bottom flanges joined at a break line and terminating in side edges,and wherein the drawer has an end panel providing a ledge portion and abottom panel rested on said ledge portion, comprising cutting a sectionout of the side flange of the track at said driven end so as to leave anelongated side key extended transversely of the break line in the planeof the side flange but terminating inwardly of the side edge of the sideflange, placing the bottom flange of the track against the bottom panelwith the driven end of the bottom flange abutting the ledge, and drivingthe driven end of the track between the ledge and the bottom panelwhereby the key scores a key-way in the ledge so that the key andkey-way cooperate to resist movement of the track in a directiontransversely of itself.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the driven end of the bottom flange isdriven into the ledge to form a channel for the bottom flange.

3. The method of claim 1 including a further step of fastening the trackto the bottom panel in longitudinally spaced relation to said drivenend.

4. In a drawer having longitudinally spaced parallel front and rear endpanels rigidly interconnected by transversely spaced parallel sidepanels, the front panel having opposite side edges respectively abuttingthe side panels, the panels having lower edges, the front end panelhaving spaced upper and lower portions providing therebetween anelongated groove extended longitudinally of the front end panel inupwardly adjacent spaced relation to its lower edge and in opposedrelation to the rear end panel, said groove having open opposite ends atsaid side edges, the groove having upper and lower surfaces, said lowerportion having a channel adjacent to one of said side edges of the frontpanel and being recessed below said lower surface and said one side edgeof the front panel having a key-way recessed therein in opposed relationto the side panel abutting said one side edge, the channel and keywayintersecting in right-angular relation, and a bottom panel having upperand lower surfaces and extended between the end and side panels havingside edges engaging the side panels and a front end edge fitted in saidgroove in overlapping relation to said channel and key-way; a track forthe drawer comprising an elongated fiat bottom flange extendedlongitudinally of the bottom panel against the lower surface thereof andproviding an end portion slidably fitted in said channel and releasablyslidably wedged between the bottom panel and said lower portion of thefront panel, a longitudinal locking key integrally downwardly extendedalong an edge of the end portion of the bottom flange and slidablyfitted in said key-way and releasably wedge between said lower portionand the adjacent side panel thereby to resist movement of the flangelongitudinally of the groove, the track further including a side flangeintegrally angularly downwardly extended from the bottom flange, havingan edge terminating short of the end portion of the bottom flange, andpositioned against said adjacent side panel, and means engaging thebottom flange in longitudinally spaced relation to said end portionsecuring the track to the bottom panel and resisting rearwardlongitudinal movement of the end portion out of the channel.

5. A method of attaching an elongated angular guide track to a drawerwherein the track has a driven end and elongated angularly related sideand bottom flanges joined at a break line and terminating in side edges,wherein the drawer has an end panel providing a ledge portion and abottom panel rested on said ledge portion, and wherein the drawer alsohas a side panel engaging and in substantially right-angular relation tothe end and bottom panels, comprising cutting a section out of the sideflange of the track at said driven end so as to leave an elongated sidekey extended transversely of the break line in the plane of the sideflange but terminating inwardly of the side edge of the side flange,placing the bottom flange of the track against the bottom panel with thedriven end of the bottom flange in opposed relation to the end panel andwith the side flange against the side panel, and driving the driven endof the track between the ledge and the bottom panel whereby the keyscores a key-way in the ledge between the ledge and the side panel sothat the key and key-way cooperate to resist movement of the track in adirection transversely of itself.

6. A method of attaching an elongated roller track to a drawer whereinthe track includes an elongated bottom flange providing a driven end,and wherein the drawer has an end panel providing a ledge portion and abottom panel rested on said ledge portion in flush engagement therewith,comprising placing the bottom flange of the track against the bottompanel with said driven end of the bottom flange in abutment with theledge where the bottom panel and the ledge are in flush engagement,driving the driven end of the bottom flange into the ledge between :theledge and the bottom panel thereby chiseling out a channel in the ledgefor the bottom flange, said channel being thereby preciselycomplementarily fitted to the bottom flange, and fastening the track tothe bottom panel in longitudinally spaced relation to said driven end.

7. A method of attaching an elongated angular roller track to a drawerwherein the track has elongated angularly related side and bottomflanges with the bottom flange being endwardly extended from the sideflange, wherein the drawer has an end panel providing a ledge portionand a bottom panel rested on said ledge portion in flush engagementtherewith, and wherein the drawer also has a side panel connected insubstantially rightangular relationship to the end and bottom panels,comprising positioning the bottom flange of the track against the bottompanel with the side flange against the side panel and with the extendedend of the bottom flange in abutment with the ledge where the bottompanel and the ledge are in flush engagement, and driving the extendedend of the bottom flange into the ledge and between the ledge and thebottom panel whereby a channel is formed in the ledge by the bottomflange for resisting movement of the bottom flange transversely ofitself along the ledge, said channel being thereby preciselycomplementarily fitted to the bottom flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS884,727 Grattan Apr. 14, 1908 1,250,520 Schreiner Dec. 18, 19171,706,971 Young Mar. 26, 1929 2,559,322 Skamser July 3, 1951

